Funding the Infantry

[Fusaki]

the lack of funding in the CF (as a whole) is pretty obvious, but i‘m curious about the LIBs and more specifically, the Para Coys.

i‘m under the impression that the infantry have more of an opportunity to maintain a decent state of readiness simply because the branch costs alot less to maintain. is this true? it makes sense to me that pilots would have the hardest time without decent funds because jets and helicopters cost so much run.

does the disbandment of the CAR have an effect on airborne funding today? i understand that during the 90s there were alot of politicians who wanted nothing to do with airborne troops. did the Ranger raid on the Taliban airfield help out the airborne cause?

insight is appreciated, thanks in advance

 

[combat_medic]

A light battalion (or airborne-capable) may seem like it costs less to fund, but you still have to have all of the planes, pilots, fuel, and equipment to pay for. Plus, maintenance on the hercs, and the fact that the herc is pretty overburdened, not to mention that the 3 para coys are spread around the country. All of these factors would probably make a para coy just as expensive to run as a mechanised coy.

 

[Jungle]

It must be mentionned that the reason the Para coys were set-up had nothing to do with strategic or tactical considerations, or the need for rapid deployment or "spec ops" capabilities. The only reason they did not can parachuting completely was that the Air Force wanted to keep dropping things. Without parachuting, they would more than likely lose some "crew time" associated with the courses (BTAT / ATAT) or exercises (TATEX / JTAT) needed to drop things and people. Since the raison d‘être of the Air Force is to fly, they do not want to lose any of those hours. Now there is change on the horizon, but I doubt we will see another Airborne unit. Hopefully, the plan to improve the LIB‘s capabilities will come through...

 

[the patriot]

Nothing short of a massive cash injection into the CAF will help alleviate the situation with respect to funding the infantry. The general impression is that JTF-2 has somewhat taken the place of the former Canadian Airborne Regiment. So to say that funding has been reduced would be difficult to ascertain. It seems that in some respects there is some creative accounting going on.

-the patriot-